used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
at or in the front
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
bandsnounUS /bændz/
plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
CreeksnounUS /kriːks/
plural of “creek” — a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
DavisnounUS /ˈdeɪvəs/
English navigator who explored the Arctic while searching for the Northwest Passage (1550-1605)
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
without deviation
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
ebbedverbUS /ˈebəd/
past form of “ebb” — flow back or recede
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
an opposing military force
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
the organ of sight
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
figuredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪɡjərd/
(of e.g. fabric design) adorned with patterns
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
a small worthless amount
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
knollnounUS /noʊl/
a small natural hill
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
lappingnounUS /ˈlæpɪŋ/
covering with a design in which one element covers a part of another (as with tiles or shingles)
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
observantadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvənt/
paying close attention especially to details
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
plannedadjectiveUS /plænd/
designed or carried out according to a plan
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
probabilitiesnounUS /ˌprɑːbəˈbɪlətiːz/
plural of “probability” — a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
SIGHTINGnounUS /ˈsaɪtɪŋ/
the act of observing
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
splitverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
thing'snounUS /θɪŋz/
possessive form of “thing” — a special situation
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading SIGHTING THE ENEMY Like the slow lapping of black water the bands of creeping Indians ebbed forward.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The boy took a desperate chance upon the same thing’s happening in the darkness, and so had led the way, with the ravine directly ahead.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
at the time that
From this reading Upon this side of the knoll, but some distance from it, there was a shallow ravine; when the Creeks on this side advanced to the attack earlier in the day, they split their forces at this ravine and came on in two separate bodies.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Jack Davis was observant; he had planned the direction of their attempt with an eye to probabilities; and what he had figured upon happening came about in due course.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Frank Lawrence held his rifle ready to fire at the word; and as he stood waiting, he wondered why the command was not given.
